Diaphragm ballcock



C. R. STONE ET AL March 3, 1959 l DIAPHRAGM BALLCOCK 2 Sheets-Shea?l 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1953 j; [V0/5E LEVEL TEST AT LB PER' 50. IN. ze o0 March 3, 1959 c. R. STONE ET Al.4 2,875,977

l DIAPHRAGM BALLCOCK Filed Aug. 19, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 (hoge/51:15

aap/m55 z//vms 09u/ET Flo w RATE- GAI.. Pfg M/A/urf VERY' 655 6000 OBJECT/anneke w 59.0 .4000 ku s /vo/sr U Q u Ql//Er f 49.0 Z000 40.0 moo United States Patent O DIAPHRAGM BALLCOCK `Carl R. Stone, Lombard, and Edward .G. Schmidt, La Grange, Ill., assignors to Crane Co., Chicago, lll., a corporationof Illinois Application August 19, 1953, 'Serial No.y 375,179

.j SCIaimS.. (Cl.'2 51331) This invention. relates generally to valves, and more particularly it is concerned with' the type termed either ballcocks or float type supply valves for closet tanks.

The primary object of this invention'is to provide a valve of the above type which is unusually quiet inl operation.

A furtherobject is to. provide such quietly operating valve of relativelysimplied construction.

Otherobjects and advantages will become more readily apparentupon proceeding'with the description read in light of the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. .l .is a sectional assembly View of a ballcock incorporatingour. new design.

Fig; 2 is an. enlarged fragmentary portion of the valve showing in particular the novel seat member and vstepped diaphragmythe latter beingzin an unstressedicondition.

Fig.v 3 is a graph showingxa noise level test atone pressure range of operation.

Fig. 4 is a-graph similar to that of Fig. 3, but for a different pressure range of operation.

Similar reference numerals refer to similari parts throughout the several views..

Referring in detail to the drawing particularly to Figs. l and 2 thereof, 1 is a fragmentary portion of a flush tanlrv through which a ballcock or float supply valve generally designated 3` and constructed according tothis. invention is mounted by means of the usual lluid tight connection generally at 4, the water supply line 2 extending into this connection at the bottom thereof. Rising from this connection; is astandpipe18 on the upper end of which is mounted as by threading at 16 the. body or casing of theballcock generally designatedv 12.

The bodyv l2 is preferably separable and is made up of an upper and lower portion 13 and 14, respectively, connected together as-by means of screws 15. The body has a hollow interior or chamber 30y which is divided into an upper and lower chamber 31 and 32, respectively, by a. ilexiblediaphragm 25 whiclrextends across the same as' shown. Below the diaphragm is a seat member 17 having a port 13 for the passage of inlet fluid within the chamber 32.

The upper portion 13 of the body isbored or recessed at 33..for reception of the cylindrical plunger 34 which extends into the. upper chamber 3 1 of the body engaging the top of thediaphragm for movementV of the same into'uid sealed contact with the seat member 17 lfor closure ofthe valve. The upper portion of the body is also Provided with a pair of spaced ears Vor projections 37 (only one being shown) coaxially apertured at 38 for pivotal support of the pin 46 of the oat rodV arm 4 5. T hispin Vis preferably integral with or. connected to the rod arm so as torotate ,therewith andextendy through the ears 37 for rmersupport and adding to greater lateral, stability ofthe rod arm.

The oat rod arm 45-is; provided with a iioat rod 47 threadedly received therewithin `at 48, at :theouter .endA ofvyhichv is the usual tloat or ball 49'.- Extending through thev rad: .am which. is. polygonal and preferably Vsquare.

' linal phase of valve. closure.

rice

or rectangular in cross section-fis ascrew 51 for .adjust ably limiting'the downward movement of thefsaid'arm andthe structure attachedfthereto by contactwith the stop 39 ofthe upper portion 13 of Vthebody when the tank 1 is emptiedy during .the flushing operation. Since the oat rod arm 45 engages the top of the plunger'34 and the upward movementof the ,latterand Aoffthe diaphragm` therebelow under the actionof thel inlet pressure for valve opening is -likewise-limited, rotation of the screw 5.1 will adjust the. rateV ofgow through theY valve for the desired'timeof .tank/filling.

The front endofthe float rod arm is rounded at 53 and the upper surfacelor top 35 'of the plunger is ilat and normal to the. axis thereof to provide for a moving '-or shifting` contact between'v the two. change of` leverageandconsequently the. force applied to the plunger andudiaphragnr as th'e riioat assembly rotates. This vbenefit. is .particularly of :importance during' the tank. refillingV andy valve closing; operation -to prevent chatter or thesettingA up of af'condition of unbalance attendant with severevibrationand-noise during the This subject matter is especially treated i'n-.co-pending application Serial No. 373,736, led AugustV l2, 19.53, now- Patent No. 2,745,428. The shiftingengagementlbetween the float rod arm 45; and .plunger 34iand-its elimination of the bothersome .and..destructive action in a new and more practical and effective .wayforms theY subjectmatter of that application to which attentionl is directed for amore complete explanation of the structure and operation of the valve. Briefly, however; thelower surface 53 of'thel rodarm is soshaped -that' inv cooperationwiththe iiat top 35: of the.plunger.the forceexerted` on the latter as the float'rises decreases to the.. extent necessaryito only slightly exceed. the...total.force-iof the inlet fluid on the underside of the diaphragm, particularly just priorl to. contact of vthediaphragm'with the.. seat when the ltotali force on the underside of the diaphragm falls offv rapidly,l to .prevent oversh'ooting :or slamming shut of the. closure memberr and subsequent rebounding and reopening. be cause of theinherent resiliency. anditheactionvof the inlet pressure within thefport'lSf; both of 'which move age as the contact between the rod arm and plungerY moves, from the inner edge of the llatterto approximatelyA the center thereof, any rebounding; or subsequentreopem ing of the gclosure..member is immediately countered by increased leverage, as theY float assembly rotates in the opposite direction, the; greater theV rebound orv opening: movement the greater the. increase in leverage to resistY the same. The movement in thisdirection is quickly absorbed or brought to a halt and they closure member is returned tothe lseat contacting portion, the'y cycle. repeating if there isany further rebounding or slight opens in-g until; the,v movement is dissipated and ythe-closure. member is lirmly seated which usually takes place inoneg or two, oscillations... Thus, a. positive and automatic dampeningfaction is also provided.v

Forj reversal Qfparts, theaupper surtace of thenoat. rod arm maylikew-isebe curved` at 54, the surface being, a duplicate of 53 and for the same purpose' upon reversal or alternate mounting.

Y.The lower part; 14 of the valve body is providedwitlr This results itia 3 a cavity 41 in communication with the chamber `32 for discharge of the inlet fluid therefrom through the refill tube 42 and hush tube 43 in accordance with ordinary tlushtank supply valve operation.

Turning now to a consideration of the diaphragm and seat member 25 and 17, respectively, with which this application is particularly concerned and their effect on the reduction or elimination of the water sound during fluid discharge therebetween, the lower body portion 14 is annularly recessed or counterbored at 23 for reception of the diaphragm 25 which is substantially flat or disc-like and preferably constructed of rubber or similar material. This member is of a thickness particularly at the outer or peripheral portion 26 thereof which is slightly greater than the depth of the counterbore 23 so that the same can be squeezed or compressed slightly between the upper and lower body portions 13 and 14 as they are secured in mounted relation by means of the screws 15 to prevent leakage through this connection. Thus, the diaphragm serves as a gasket or seal besides its other functions. this connection, it should be noted that there is metal to metal contact between the portions of the body outwardly of the diaphragm so that the latter is compressed or squeezed only to the extent necessary to form a proper seal between these portions and no more, thereby preventing excessive ow or other injury to the diaphragm objectionably affecting its operation.

It is well known that most ball cocks or oat supply valves are noisy as a result of water ow therethrough, sometimes of a very noticeable and annoying nature as the closure member is moving towards the seat. Inthe present valve, it has been foundthat the provision of an annular groove or recess 27 vin the lower surface of the flexible diaphragm outwardly of the center seat contacting` portionv 29 and exposed vto the fluid in the chamber 32 has a marked effect on the performance of the valve from thev standpoint of noise reduction and quietness of operation. The reason for this is not definitely known or at best is conjectural, but the effect on the reduction of noise has been definitely ascertained as shown by the graphs marked Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring in detail tothe graph of Fig. 3, noise 'level performance curves are therein shown for various valves, linear Loudness Units being plotted against flow rate in gallons per minute as shown, for a 40-pound persquare inch inlet or supply pressure. Curve A shows the noise level for a valve provided with a plain at unstepped or unrecessed diaphragm of substantially uniform thickness similar to some of those found in the prior art. This valve definitely lies within the noisy or objectionable rangethroughout the various ow rates and is undesirable. Curve B on the other hand shows the very same valve except for the employment of the stepped or annularly recessed diaphragm shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and previously described. It is obvious that this seemingly slight change 'has resulted in a valve which is approximately twice as quiet as that of curve A throughout its entire ow variation and falls within the quiet range for the ordinary ow ratesof between three and four gallons per minute which requires from about one minute and fifteen seconds to one minute, respectively for tank filling after the flushing operation. Curve C concerns the seat member and will be discussed subsequently. It should be mentioned, however, that the values of curves A and B are not provided with the seat member shown in the drawing and identified by numeral 17, but rather with a more conventional type which does not give as good performance, as will be seen. v

v Referring now to the graph of Fig.' 4, curves A and B are therein shown representing the same valves as the equivalent curves of Fig. 3 and plotted in the same way, except that an inlet or supply pressure of eighty pounds per square inch has been used'to represent the higher range of pressures often encountered. Curve A representing the plain unstepped diaphragm has moved up to an excessivelynoisy position, particularly for any ow rate over three gallons per minute. Curve B has also moved up, but is still considerably below the other even under the forty pound pressure of Fig. 3. Moreover, the curve is atter and the noise increases at a much slower rate in the normally satisfactory flow range of from three to four gallons per minute previously noted. The level of noise for this ow range is at the top of the quiet zone and still is not objectionable even under the higher pressure.

It is thus further apparent that a remarkable improvement in quietness of operation has resulted from the use of the present diaphragm over the plain variety, which improvement is unexpected and which converts an otherwise noisy valve into one of generally desirable performauce.

It should also be mentioned that a greater flexibility of.

the diaphragm 25 in its seating and opening movement is derived from the annular relief therearound, said relief being duplicated in the upper surface at 28 to furtherA this exibility and for reversibility of the diaphragm.

Although the diaphragm as illustrated and described has been provided with an annular groove or recessv 27 in the lower surface thereof, the actual use of such a groove or recess is not necessarily essential to the desired silencing effect. For instance,.the same elect would be produced and quieting action procurable by making the diaphragm of a thickened or raised central portion presently identified by numeral 29 for contact with the valve seat and a reduced portion outwardly thereof which is partly exposed to the fluid within the valve and which extends between the upper and lower body portions similar- .f ly to the present arrangement except for the elimination rection of mere streamlining. For instance, the mouth or inlet end of the seat member 17 has been rounded at 21. Also, the top of the member is rounded or curved at 19 forming the seat surface for engagement by the diaphragm in the closed position. The latter curve, however, comprises a crown or upper extremity of constant radius, that is, one of single radius and fixed center in longitudinal section, as can best be seen in Fig. 2, which ordinarily is undesirable in valves like this because of the production of cavitation and turbulence, the rate of divergence of the surface being too great for the flow to adhere thereto. It has been necessary in the past to resort to various practices to overcome this tendency and to produce a smooth ow through the chamber 32 and into the cavity 41 such as to provide a substantially fiat top which is only slightly divergent or outwardly sloping; Also, a

top which is similar to the above except that it slopes slightly inwardly towards the port rather than away from it has been tried with success. Apparently, there is some relationbetween the crown of full curvature and constant radius and the stepped diaphragm or annularly recessed diaphragm 25 which permits employment of the former for still greater improved valve operation. Or what is more likely, there is probably some Yconnection between the entire seat member of the present valve and the stepped diaphragm, including the curved mouth 21 of the said member and the outwardly sloping conical surface 20 which the crown top merges into.

The rounded entranceway 21 in combination with the crown formation 19 above referred to and the conical v surface 20 outwardly of the latter seem to producea the,v samethroughout;` the course; of movement "therealongto-` prevent cavitation; andturbulence-v and tod provide for moreecien't iiuid transmission:A Also, the straight-.portion of'.` the passageway 1'8 is rather short which may contribute to the unitary ow effect of the seat member.

Elimination of the curved mouth 21, for instance, and the'. use; of even a beveled entranceway does not atl all gi've the results the formerv does. So therev isy more involved thana, mere funneling action. A full'curvature is necessary at the mouth as well as at the exit end to produce the unity of iliow'through and around the member andadherence to-thefwalls and surfaces thereof for full smooth flow through the same.

Referring; again vto the charts of Figs- 3 and 4, curvel C of'each of these charts shows the performance of avalve equipped with both the stepped-diaphragm and seat member 1']y presently shownl plotted' in the-same manner as; for curves- Al and B for supply pressures of 40 and 80 p: s. il for theft-,wo charts respectively. It isevident that further improvement of a marked nature has taken place, and that the valve now falls within the quiet range for substantially the entire flow variation and is particularly quiet through, the ordinary flow of from; three to four gallons per minute or so for forty poundsofr pressure. For high, pressure use as illustrated by theeightyV pound pressure of the Fig. 4 graph, the valve is wellwithin the quiet zone for the ordinary flow ratesl andalthough higher for increased flow, the. performance is still -satis factory even though these rates are almost never used. It should be pointed out in connection with'the graphs that the approximatefvalues in decibels are also indicated in the margin. opposite the even thousandths` of Loudness Units, the: latter Units being set forth in American Standards=,Associatiorr standard` ASA Z242v of 1942 and the previous standard.

Although the diaphragm 2Sv has substantially lowered the noise level of the valve, use of the seat member 17 alongA with the .diaphragm has further decreased the. noise and refined the valve' to the point of extreme quietness throughoutA abroad range of pressures and flow rates. The seat'member may, of course, be used alone or with a plain diaphragm for instance with some improvement by-virtue` ofy the flow characteristics above. described, but the best performance from the standpoint of reduced noise is obtained by use. of the seat member withcthe stepped diaphragm, the two cooperating together in some obscure manner to produce the results reflected by the curves or graphs already considered. In this connection, the nside: of the valve body is annularly curved at 44 just outwardly` of the conical surface. 20 of the seat member which appears to have an interrelatng function between the seat member and diaphragm by apparently `scooping or raising the uid'as it comes off the conical surface in a smooth non-turbulent manner to the outer recessed portion of the diaphragm. The curvature. referred to inside the body seems-to contribute to better overall performanceof the valve. It is believed pertinent to all of the above to mentionthat regarding supply valves or ballcocks long years of experience on the part of those skilled in the art have shown that the hydraulics and action of. these valves is rather unpredictable andthat slight changes and even manufacturing variations are often critical or have a significant effect on the effectiveness and operation of the valve, even making the difference between a good commercial valve and one which is unsatisfactory and not favorably accepted by the public.

To complete the description of the seat member 17, the port`18` through the same is preferable of polygonal form in cross section to accommodate. a wrench for rotation of the seat member into and out of position during assembly and disassembly thereof within the valve body.

The conical surface 20 terminates in an annular shoulder 22 to limit the downward movement of said member in assembly and to serve as a seal. with the inside of the. body. It should also be noted in connection with d mounting. of this member that the same: is threaded 'at 24for reception within the.samefthreads-4 or extension of thesame. threads 16 as receive the standpipe 8'. This arrangement results in az sirnplerandmore compact valve which is easier and less expensive; to make.

It should be evidentA from the'v foregoing description that a novel oat valve or. ballcock has been produced possessing unusual quietness in operation. Although it is preferable to use the diaphragml and Vseat member of this invention together forcombined or interrelatedresults, it is not desired necessarily to limit the same to such use as some unexplained benefits appear towflowv from the use of these members also separately. Further, it is not desired to be limited to the details'of the. embodiment presentlyy shown and described, but rather to the terms of the appended claims.

We claim:`

l. In a ballcock, the combination comprisinga hollow member having an inlet and outlet and including a ported seat portion through which the inletextends, said ported seat portion projectingY into the hollowinterior of saidt hollow member, a exible diaphragm secured acrossthe hollow interior of said` hollow member and engageable with` said ported seat portion` for the closed valve position, said seat portion terminating in a crown of constant radius serving as.. a seat for engagement of the diaphragm and mergingL into the exterior surface of the,- seatfportion, saidsurface increasingin diameter inthe direction away from the terminus ofthe crown in contact with the diaphragm in the closed valve position, said surface'of increasing; diameter4 extending substantially to aportion of the inside surface of the hollow member extending; from adjacent the surface of increasing diameter in a smooth curve; sweeping in the direction of the: diaphragm,-and`srnoothly.A

. joining with the portion ofy the inside surface of' the,

hollow member adjacent the side of the diaphragmv facing the inlet, said diaphragm, havingY a raised surface, on.

the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, extending across. the center where it overliesthe port of, the ported seat portion and-engages the crown of constant radius of the seatr portion in the rclosed valve position, said dia.- phragm beingI annularly relieved, on the side ofthe diaphragm facing` the inlet, relative tothe latter raisedY surface outwardly of the raised surface beyondV the crown of constant radius of the seat portion, the outward extent of the annular relief of the diaphragm being" at least to said portion of the inside surface of' the hollow member adjacent the side of the diaphragm facingthe inlet, said raised central surface being substantiallydat across its extent in the unexed condition of the diaphragm, the annular relief of the diaphragm providingan annular substantially flat surfaceY in the unexed condition of the diphragm which with the substantially 'at raised cen tral surface provides a stepped surface of the diaphragm on the side thereof facingthe inlet, said annular relief providing a substantially cylindrical surface forming; at least that partA of the bounding surface of saidA annular substantially flat surface, adjacent the raised, central surface ofthe diaphragm, farthest from said; annular substantially at surface so as to form a sharp edge withthe substantiallyfiat raised central surfacey ofl the. diaphragm. Y

2. In a ballcock, the combination comprising a hollowy member having aninlet and outlet and including a ported seat portion through which the inlet extends, said ported seat portion projectingr into the hollow interior of said hollow member, a flexible diaphragm secured across the hollow interior of said hollow member and engageable with said ported seat portion for the closed valve position, said seat portion terminating in a crown of constant radius serving as a seat for engagement of the diaphragm4 and merging into the exterior surface of the seat portion, said surface increasing in diameter in the direction away fromthe terminus of the crown in contact with the diaphragm in the yclosed valve position,

' saidy surface of increasing diameter extending substantially to. aportion of the inside surface of the hollow vmember extending from adjacent the surface of increasing diameter 1n a smooth curve sweeping in the direction of the dlaphragm and -smoothly joining with the portion of the 1ns1de surface of the hollow member adjacent the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said diaphragm having a raised surface, on the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, extending across the center where it overlies the ported seat portion and engages the crown of constant radius of the seat portion in the closed valve position, said diaphragm being annularly relieved, on the side of the diaphragmY facing the inlet, relative to the latter raised surface outwardly of the raised surface beyond the crown of constant radius of the seat portion so as to present an annular relief surface, the outward extent of the annular relief of the diaphragm being at least to said portion of the inside surface of the hollow member adjacent the side of the diaphragm facingthe inlet, said annular relief providing a substantially cylindrical surface forming at least that part of the bounding surface of said annular relief surface, adjacent the raised central surface of the diaphragm, farthest from said annular relief surface so as to forma sharp edge with the raised central surface of the diaphragm.

3. In a ballcock, the combination comprising a hollow member having an inlet and outlet and including a ported seatiportion through which the inlet extends, said ported seat portion projecting into the hollow interior of said hollow member, a flexible diaphragm secured across the hollow interior of said hollow member and engageable with said ported seat portion for the closed valve position, said seat portion -terminating in a crown of constant radius serving as a seat for engagement of the diaphragm and merging into the exterior surface of the seat portion, said surface increasing inV diameter in the direction away from the terminus of the crown in contact with the diaphragm in the closed valve position, said surface of increasing diameter extending substantially to a portion of the inside surface of the hollow member extending from adjacent the surface of increasing diameter in a smooth curve sweeping in the direction of the diaphragm and smoothly joining with the portion of the inside surface of the hollow member adjacent the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said diaphragm having a central portion for engagement with the crown of constant radius of the seat portion in the closed valve position, the surface of the central portion facing the inlet being smooth and uninterrupted, the surface of the diaphragm facing the inlet being annularly relieved` outwardly of the central portion, the outward extent of the annular relief ofthe diaphragm being at least to said por tion of the insideV surface of the hollow member adjacent the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said annular relief providing at the inner limit thereof a surface substantially cylindrical at least adjacent said surface of the central portion so as to form a sharp annular edge with said ylatter surface. 4. InV a ballcock, the combination comprising a hollow member having an inlet and outlet and including a ported seat portion through which the inlet extends, said ported seat portion projecting into the hollow interior of said hollow member, a flexible diaphragm secured across the hollow interior of said hollow member and engageable with said ported seat portion for the closed valve position, said seat portion terminating in a crown of constant radius serving asa seat for engagement of the diaphragm and merging into the exterior surface of the seat portion, said surface increasing in diameter in the direction away from the terminus of the crown in contact with the diaphragm in the closed valve position, said surface of increasing diameter extending substantially to a portion of the inside surface of the hollow member extending from adjacent the surface of increasing diameter in a smooth curve sweeping in the direction of the diaphragm and smoothly joining with the portion of the inside surface of the hollow member adjacent the side'of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said diaphragm having a central portion for engagement with the crown of constant radius of the seat portion in the closed valve position, the surface of the diaphragm facing the inlet being annularly relieved outwardly of the central portion, said annular relief providing at the inner limit thereof a surface substantially cylindrical at least adjacent the inlet facing surface portion of the central portion adjacent the relief so as to form a sharp edge with said latter surface portion.

5. In a ballcock, the .combination comprising a hollow two-part body having an inlet and outlet and a ported seat member secured within said inlet and projecting into the hollow interior of the body therefrom, la exible diaphragm within said body engageable with said seat member for the closed valve position, said diaphragm extending across the interior of the hollow body and being secured betweenthe two parts of the body, said ported seat member having a rounded mouth of smooth curvature leading into the port thereof, the smooth curvature of the mouth extending substantially from the periphery of the inlet, the entrance of the mouth being of substantially the same size as the inlet from which it leads, said seat member terminating in a crown of constant radius at the opposite end of the port serving as a seat surface for engagement of the diaphragm and merging into an outwardly divergent generally conical surface around the exterior of the member within the hollow interior of the body, said outwardly divergent generally conical surface of the seat member extending substantially to the inside surface of the hollow body, the portion of the'latter inside surface adjacent thev generally conical surface ofthe seat member extending therefrom in a smooth sweeping curve in the direction of the diaphragm and smoothly joining with the portion of the inside surface of the body adjacent the -side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said diaphragm being thickened across the center where it overlies the port of the seat member and engages the crown of constantradius of the seat member in the closed valve position to provide a raised central surface on the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said diaphragm being reduced in thickness relative to the latter thickened portion outwardly thereof beyond the crown of constant radius of the seat member to provide an annularly relieved surface relative to said raised surface on the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said latter relieved surface extending at least to said portion of the inside surface of the body adjacent the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, said raised central surface being substantially at across its extent in the untlexed condition of the diaphragm, said relieved surface being substantially tlat in the unexed condition of the diaphragm which with the substantially at raised central surface provides a stepped surface of the diaphragm on the side thereof facing the inlet, the limit of the central raised surface being defined by a circular annular surface extendingvfrom the at relieved surface of the reduced portion to the central raised surface and forming a sharp annular edge at the periphery of the flat surface of the latter thickened portion, said circular annular surface being substantially cylindrical at least adjacent said central raised surface.

6. In a ballcock, the combination comprising a hollow two-part body having an inlet and outlet and a ported seat member secured within said inlet and projecting into the hollow interior of the body therefrom, a flexible diaphragm within said body engageable with said seat member for the closed valve position, said diaphragm extending across the interior of the hollow body and being secured between the two parts of the body, said ported seat member having a rounded mouth of smooth curvature leading into the port thereof, the smooth curvature of the mouth extending substantially from the periphery of the inlet, the entrance of the mouth being of substantially the same size as the inlet from which it leads, said seat member terminating in a crown of constant radius at the opposite end of the port serving as a seat portion for engagement of the diaphragm and merging into an outwardly divergent generally conical surface around the exterior of the member within the hollow interior of the body, said flexible diaphragm comprising a at disc of substantially uniform thickness when unflexed except for oppositely disposed annular grooves adjacent the peripheral support of the diaphragm within the body and outwardly of the crown of constant radius of the seat member, the outer edges of the grooves being substantially even with the portions of the inside surface of the body extending on each side of the diaphragm, said outwardly divergent generally conical surface of the seat member extending substantially to the inside surface of the hollow body, the portion of the inside surface adjacent the ported seat member extending therefrom in a smooth sweeping curve merging with the portion of the inside surface of the body adjacent the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, the grooved portion of the diaphragm having a pair of annular substantially at surfaces in the unflexed condition of the diaphragm forming the back surface of each of the grooves, the portion of the diaphragm towards the center from the grooves being defined at its periphery by a pair of circular annular surfaces extending respectively from each of the flat surfaces of the grooves to the opposite surfaces of said portion of the diaphragm toward the center from the grooves forming a sharp annular edge at each of the peripheries of said opposite surfaces, said circular annular surfaces being substantially cylindrical at least adjacent said opposite surfaces of said portion of the diaphragm towards the center from the grooves.

7. The subject matter of claim 6, said ported seat member being secured Within said inlet of the body by means of threading between the said inlet and seat member, the portion of said ported seat member having said outwardly divergent generally conical surface being of greater size than the inlet and overlapping the inside of the body immediately surrounding the portion of the seat member extending within the inlet in substantial fluid sealing abutting engagement therewith, said seat member being drawn into the fluid sealing engagement and being secured therein by means of the threaded engagement between the portion of the seat member within the inlet and the said inlet of the body, lsaid hollow body being separable to permit assembly or removal of both the diaphragm and said seat member.

8. In a ballcock, the combination comprising a hollow two-part body having an inlet and outlet and a ported seat member secured within said inlet and projecting into the hollow interior of the body therefrom, a flexible diaphragm within said body engageable with said seat member for the closed valve position, said diaphragm extending across the interior of the hollow body and being secured between the two parts of the body, said ported seat member having a rounded mouth of smooth curvature leading into the port thereof, the smooth curvature of the mouth extending substantially from the periphery of the inlet, the entrance of the mouth being of'substantially the same size as the inlet from which it leads, said seat member terminating in a crown of constant radius at the opposite end of the port serving as a seat surface for engagement of the diaphragm and merging into an outwardly divergent generally conical surface around the exterior of the member within the hollow interior of the body, said flexible diaphragm comprising a flat disc of substantially uniform thickness when unflexed except for oppositely disposed annular grooves adjacent the peripheral support of the diaphragm within the body and outwardly of the crown of constant radius of the seat member, the outer edges of the grooves being substantially even with the portions of the inside surface of the body extending on each side of the diaphragm, said outwardly divergent generally conical surface of the seat member extending substantially to the inside surface of the hollow body, the portion of the inside surface adjacent the ported seat member extending therefrom in a smooth sweeping curve merging with the portion of the inside surface of the body adjacent the side of the diaphragm facing the inlet, the grooves of said diaphragm presenting llat annular surfaces n the unexed condition of the diaphragm and each groove having inner and outer concentric substantially cylindrical surfaces forming at least the parts of the sides of the grooves farthest from said at surfaces of the grooves so as to form sharp edges with the opposite faces of the diaphragm.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 779,069 Burchett Jan. 3, 1905 926,730 Dale July 6, 1909 1,771,410 Landis July 29, 1930 1,976,851 Landis Oct. 16, 1934 2,141,070 Newell Dec. 20, 1938 2,211,167 Safford Aug. 13, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 50,257 Switzerland of 1910 628,844 Germany of 1936 211,459 Switzerland of 1940 

